#BlogTour Burning Secret by R.J. Lloyd

It’s my turn on the Blogtour Burning Secret by R.J. Lloyd – ‘An ancestor found, a name change, criminal activity and more in Harry Mason’s great great grandson’s fictionalised retelling of his life.’

About the Author

Tracing your ancestors has never been more popular, but what if your ancestor was far more intriguing than you ever thought? 

In R J Lloyd’s fictionalised reconstruction of his lost ancestor, Burning Secret, he explores the rich past of his great great grandfather and what might have been. Follow @rjlwriteruk on Twitter

About the book

As in life, the book begins in 1844, when Enoch Price was born into poverty. An ambitious youth, he becomes a bare-knuckle fighter in London’s underworld. In debt to a violent and unscrupulous moneylender and facing ruin and imprisonment, he escapes to Jacksonville, Florida, abandoning his wife and three young daughters, a decision that will haunt him for the rest of his life. By the time he arrives in Florida, Enoch Price has become Harry Mason.

Through a series of thrilling and risky escapades, he plays an important role in the development and history of Jacksonville, building an extraordinary new life of political and financial notoriety, shooting a rival, and concealment of a murder. Despite imploring his wife to join him, she declines, exhausted by his lies. 

Tormented by loneliness and guilt, Harry seeks solace through a bigamous marriage, leading him into a web of deceit as he tries to conceal his true identity. Meanwhile, lauded and enjoying popular success, Harry is elected in 1903 to the Florida State House of Representatives with the prospect of becoming State Governor. He advances his business interests through a series of corrupt practices, becoming a wealthy and  successful politician. 

However, success brings neither happiness nor contentment, and, seeking redemption, Harry plans to return home – but life is never that simple as the First World War breaks out, the Spanish flu takes its toll, and the American government introduces prohibition. Will there be a good end for Harry, or will his secrets prove to be the death of him?

Review

Enoch is hanging on to life outside of prison by the skin of his teeth – it’s only a question of time until his troubles catch up with him. He has a wife and three daughters to think of, and he decides to go on the run. With a purpose, with the promise of new beginnings for all of them.

Except it doesn’t work out that way, well for him it does, as he reinvents himself and makes his mark on and in a new country, whilst always thinking about his loved ones. His wife no longer trusts him, and in the end Enoch, now Harry, leaves all aspects of the old life in the past and turns to pastures greener.

In the afterword, there is a lot of information about familial connections and their fate, historical and relevant figures to the story. What I would like to know was just how much of the story is based on fact or fiction. Given the extra information I would say the author has merely filled in the blanks and created likely scenarios, regardless of whether they are often seen from a more positive and/or negative perspective given the the main character is family, and there is no way to reproduce how the first family and wife really felt about the way he abandoned them. 

If he was truly tormented then surely he would have done something about it, but then the house of cards would have collapsed, right? It’s easier to imagine that life goes on, regardless of his presence, but the real question is whether his presence and/or the status he acquired would have made a difference to their lives. The reality of a woman and three small children being left behind in those circumstances – it would have been tough.

It’s a fascinating story that can be interpreted in different ways. You can see the deception and the fact this man led a lifetime of lies or see the man who navigated another path for himself, and made a more positive impact in the second part of his story. Either way it is one heck of a story, and life.

Buy Burning Secret at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador, pub date 28 June 2022 | ISBN: 9781803131498 | Price: £10.99. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via Troubador – Matador.

#BlogTour The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene

It’s my turn on the BlogTour The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene.

About the Author

Kevin Sene is a scientist and writer on water and climate themes. The idea for this guide arose from many enjoyable walks and cycle rides along the Cumbrian coast when living in Kendal and Carlisle and an interest in its history and wildlife. He has also written a book on tidal bores and a travel guide to the Mersey Estuary describing places to visit around its Liverpool, Wirral and Cheshire shores. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has worked extensively in Europe, Africa and Asia. Follow @meteowriternews on Twitter, Visit meteowriter.com

About the book

The coastline of Cumbria stretches for almost two hundred miles from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth and passes through the beautiful Lake District National Park. The Cumbria and Lake District Coast provides suggestions for places to visit along the coast, including picturesque harbours, stately homes, museums and seaside resorts. Readers will also discover less well-known sights such as medieval buildings, lighthouses and stone circles. The Lancashire shores of Morecambe Bay and the Scottish shores of the Solway Firth are included too.

For those interested in the history of the coast, there is an introduction to the role of coastal trade through the centuries. Topics include the Roman coastal defences that once extended to Maryport beyond Hadrian’s Wall, how mining contributed to the growth of ports such as Barrow, Millom and Workington, and the canals that linked ports at Lancaster, Ulverston and Carlisle to the shore.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the book highlights the many nature reserves that dot the shoreline and the varied habitats that are found, such as sand dunes, lowland raised mires and spectacular sea cliffs. There are also tips on watching waterbirds, for which Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth are famed, and on where to see seals and tidal bores such as the Arnside Bore.

With stunning colour photographs, The Cumbria and Lake District Coast is a must-read for travellers and local residents alike. It will also be of interest to walkers along the England Coast Path, a fabulous new long-distance trail which is due to be completed shortly.

Review

I think books like this have taken a bit of a hit in the last few decades, especially in the era of the internet. Nowadays if you want information or an image of an area or place you would like to visit, you can just use a search engine. Instant results. I can remember using a popular brand name guide book in the late 80s in New York. It’s a completely different experience to hold a book like this in your hands and experience Cumbria and the Lake District.

I also thinks it is the cherry on top of the sundae that the images in the book have been taken by the author himself. The result is authenticity instead of high gloss airbrushed magazine quality. It’s the person aligned with time, place and nature, which will resonate with readers who like to discover new places and indeed rediscover the area they live in.

It’s fairly easy to forget the natural beauty and historical relevance of our surroundings. The majority of us don’t take enough time to appreciate the small things in life. This book gives readers, walkers, explorers and historians the chance to do just that. It’s a detailed, riveting homage to Cumbria and the Lake District. I can only there will be many more.

Buy The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador – Troubador Publishing. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Something to Tell You by David Edwards

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Something to Tell You by David Edwards. It’s a smorgasbord of speculative fiction, science fiction, philosophy and theology.

About the Author

David Edwards previously published two anti-romance books under the pseudonym of Jack George Edmunson. He then published the historical novel, The Ebb & Flow, before moving over to children’s fiction with The Black Hand Gang. He currently lives in Switzerland. For more information visit davidedwardsauthor.com.

Follow @edwardsauthor on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on LinkedIn, Buy Something to Tell You 

About the book

Something to Tell You follows the two families of Bert Leinster and his best friend Sam Murray, as the earth comes under bombardment by a Higgs Boson particle storm. The Central Control of the World council insists that survival depends on living underground, protected by The Envelope. As CCOW persuades humankind to hide in the Deeps, Bert cannot challenge CCOW nor comprehend why people cannot see the truth behind the lies.

Everything changes when he meets Her. Lily, a plant who becomes his enemy in the battle to save humankind, to save you… although 99.9% of you is empty space. Do you deserve saving?

Review

Speculative fiction can often be a marmite kind of read. It depends on how much a reader is willing to ride with the author whilst they bend boundaries, re-imagine the known norm and spread tentacles into every area of the universe and beyond. Expect your grey cells to be bounced around like flubber on a freefall from space in this read.

In essence it’s an end of the world scenario from the point of view of Bert, his family and friends. The way those who control the world, or rather those who own the media, manipulate the people in an attempt to console and defraud. To what end? To lead the flock like lambs to the inevitable slaughter.

Positive and negative – good and evil – god and the devil. All of these are two sides of the same coin. Energy and reactions equal the actions of both good and evil. God and the devil co-exist in some screwed up semblance of what we regard largely as life. To kill one is to automatically also extinguish the other and we are destined to repeat this cycle ad infinitum.

It’s a smorgasbord of speculative fiction, science fiction, philosophy and theology.

One could argue that less is often more and that clarification is better than an assumption of understanding. It depends on what you want to impart, how you do that and whether or not you are interested in the emotional resonance.

I can imagine quite a few readers walking away from this read and asking themselves, especially after reading the ending, what was the intention and/or what did I take away from this read.

For me it was the sense of powerlessness, because fate is dictated by an ever-turning and self- regenerating cycle, This also means we are programmed, whether by scientific fact or theological premise to make the same choices. mistakes or take certain paths over and over again – fifth, sixth or seventh world..

Buy Something to Tell You at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published in hardcover and ebook formats by troubadour Publishing in May 2019. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Troubadour. Buy at WHSmith. Barnes & Noble.

#BlogTour A Friend in Deed by G.D. Harper

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour A Friend in Deed by G.D. Harper.

Giveaway to Win all 3 paperbacks of GD Harper’s Psychological Fiction Trilogy (Open UK Only) – Prize features all three books, Love’s Long Road, Silent Money and A Friend in Deed

About the Author

I was placed third in the 2015 Lightship Prize for first-time authors, won a 2016 Wishing Shelf Award Red Ribbon, been shortlisted at the UK Festival of Writing for Best First Chapter, longlisted in the 2017 UK Novel Writing Competition.

In 2017, I was one of twelve authors selected for Authors in the Spotlight at the Bloody Scotland book festival in Stirling, showcasing who they considered to be the best emerging talent in crime fiction, and was the only self-published author to be chosen. I have spoken at numerous other book events, including Blackwells’ Writers at the Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; a stand-alone slot at the Byres Road Book Festival in Glasgow, and the Aye Write! Book Festival, also in Glasgow.

I worked in Russia and Ukraine for ten years, which gave me the ideas for the plot and setting that I used in A Friend in Deed.

Follow @harper_author on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon,Visit gdharper.com,

About the book

Britain: a few years from now. A new populist political party has won the recent general election.

Duncan Jones, freelance political journalist and blogger, loses his weekly column at a national newspaper and turns to investigative reporting. The chance remark of a friend leads him to suspect that the Russians are directing the new British government’s policies and decisions. As he visits Moscow and Ukraine to discover more, scandal follows intrigue, dark forces attempt to silence him by whatever means possible and he turns to an unlikely ally for help.

A Friend in Deed is a fast-paced psychological thriller set in an all-too-believable near future. It is also the story of how one man confronts the traumas in his past and works out how to resolve them.

Review

A Friend in Deed is part of series of books that can be read as standalone novels. All three books are linked when it comes to the characters and the environment. This book is the story of Duncan, Silent Money is about Michael Mitchell and Love’s Long Road is the story of Michael’s lover Roberta.

This story is set in the near future of Britain and is unfortunately all too accurate. When you take the facts as we know them at this moment in time, which is that Russia has and is influencing the outcomes of foreign elections to suit their own agenda, then this story is on point. Russia interfered and influenced the 2016 US elections. Russia interfered and influenced the EU referendum. Russian funds are undeniably linked to interference in British politics, which will become important in the upcoming elections in December 2019. Russia divides us to conquer – unfortunately quite successfully.

Harper also addresses another important aspect of our time, which has come under fire during Trump’s term of office – the freedom and legitimacy of the press. Catch-phrases like fake news have become synonymous with media in the last few years. Independent bloggers and media outlets have become a thorn in big medias side, because they don’t have to bow down to their corporate bosses.

Is there a media bias? Yes. Why? Because the top of the food chain ensures that the narrative they want to unfold is supported by the media outlets they own and run. Social media moguls are more interested in money than fact checking political ads, thereby helping to spread lies and form opinions. Unfortunately that leaves the common man in the position of having a lack of trust towards those outlets. Thanks to phones and cameras on the frontline we can see when the media reports favour one party for instance and neglects the other.

All of the above is probably why many people go looking for an independent voice, a blogger like Duncan, but then who says he isn’t being used by others to further some nefarious narrative.

It’s a political psychological thriller with a spy vibe. What I take away from this fictional read, is how the UK and US, and indeed the world, is being influenced by third parties who don’t have our best interests at heart. It’s a fast-paced read and simultaneously also a warning to be more diligent. Always fact check.

Buy A Friend in Deed at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing; Paperback pub date 18 Oct. 2018. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Love’s Long Road and Silent Money by G.D. Harper.

Giveaway to Win all 3 paperbacks of GD Harper’s Psychological Fiction Trilogy (Open UK Only) – Prize features all three books, Love’s Long Road, Silent Money and A Friend in Deed

Click here to Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

#BlogTour The Awakening Aten by Aidan K. Morrissey

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour The Awakening Aten by Aidan K. Morrissey. It’s historical fiction, a footstep inside the door of the great and intricate world of the Eygptians.

About the Author

“I am of Irish heritage and was the first member of my immediate family to be born outside of Ireland. My professional life has caused me to travel the world. I am now looking forward to settling in the North East of England, to concentrate on writing.

A graduate in Law from Leicester University, after working for some years in a commercial environment, I qualified as a Solicitor in 1981. My career developed in an unusual way and I have lived and worked at various times in Italy, Brazil, the United States, India and Germany.

I have always had a love and fascination for history. A holiday in Egypt sparked a particular passion for Ancient Egypt, especially the latter part of the 18th Dynasty. A history, which Pharaoh Horemeb (Djeser-Kheperu-Ra circa 1319-1292 BCE) tried to destroy and which only came to light following the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.

‘The Awakening Aten’ is the culmination of many years of research.

I have built up a substantial collection of academic books and novels on Ancient Egypt, its customs, traditions and daily life. I am fortunate to have been able to visit all of the major museums containing artefacts from Egypt throughout the world, as well as spending months in Egypt itself studying the funereal valleys and other sites. All of this supplemented by internet research.

This novel is the first in a plannned five book series, looking at the fictional lives of real people through a period of major political and religious change, spanning approximately 130 years.

My hobbies are reading, which I enjoy as much as I do writing, and taking bracing walks along the North East Coast and in the Northumberland Hills.”

Follow @AidanKMorrissey on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit aidankmorrissey-author.com

Buy The Awakening Aten

About the book

The Awakening Aten envelops the reader in an Egypt of whispers and fears, of webs within webs, deceit upon deceit. Its themes of murder, intrigue, political and religious conflict, corruption, tomb robbing, war and executions are set against a background of fundamental ideological change.

Ancient Egypt is seen through the eyes of two families; one royal, the other commoner.

Yuya, whose tomb is in the Valley of the Kings, is a foreigner who rises from slavery to become Regent to an infant Pharaoh and thus, the most powerful man in the world’s wealthiest empire. His children and descendants will remain at the very heart of the country’s destiny. Kha is a tomb painter and builder who experiences both the despair of imprisonment and the horror of war. As Overseer of the King’s Works he restores the Great Sphinx, and inscribes the ‘Dream Stela’ placed between its paws, still visible today. Through tragic and deathly events his family and that of Yuya become entwined.

This is the fictional tale of real people, whose possessions and artefacts can be seen in museums throughout the world. It gives a voice to those people, inspired by their personal items, buried with them 3,000 years ago.

Review

This is the first book in the Aten series.

There is no doubt that Eygptian history is fascinating, perhaps more so because the life and times of their Kings is worthy of an HBO series – it’s just that dramatic.

In the awakening the reader follows the paths of Yuya and Kha, and their different perspectives and experiences. One who rises to shape Eygptian history, as do his descendants. The other shapes the way the future will see the Egyptians.

The history we gleem from artefacts, statues and tombs, they teach us what lives they lead and how they died. It’s fair to say the modern world is still amazed by the architecture, culture and history of these advanced people.

I think the strength of this story is that the majority of the characters are based on fact and that the author shows dedication to the historical events and facts as we know them. Historical fiction can be a tough one. For me there has to be a good balance between fact and fiction. If not, the fiction becomes too far-fetched or it’s hard to differentiate between the two. You can tell a cracking story and educate at the same time, but without being too academic. Luckily Morrissey doesn’t do that.

However the writing needs to be less stinted, the dialogues more realistic and less predictable and the characters need more depth.

On a more positive note there are so many facts and historical tidbits to take away from this read. The author knows his stuff.

Morrissey just needs to find the balance and his own way of being able to share the breadth of his knowledge in a way that draws more readers in. I’m sure that he is able to do so.

It’s historical fiction, a footstep inside the door of the great and intricate world of the Eygptians.

Buy The Awakening Aten at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing; pub date 21 May 2019. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Troubador.

#BlogTour Blood List by Ali Carter

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Blood List Ali Carter. It’s a psychological thriller with shades of Dr Foster, but rather more deadly.

About the Author

Ali Carter was born in Surrey in 1958 and moved to East Anglia in 2003, settling just outside King’s Lynn 4 years later where she currently lives with her husband, 5 dogs and 6 cats. (Yes she knows the dog/cat thing is a bit mad!)

She originally found some success in writing poetry in the 80’s and 90’s, but inspiration for her debut novel ‘Blood List’ came after the Shipman case hit the headlines – a few years later the dark and deeply psychotic G.P. ‘Charlotte’ was born. The full story took its time in completion however as there was a very long period of writer’s block about three quarters of the way through the book. It was an author friend who finally persuaded her to pull it out of the laptop and finish it, for which she will be eternally grateful. At the time of writing, a sequel is in its infancy which she sincerely hopes won’t take another 12 years to come to fruition!

Ali is also a proud mum to two grown up sons, and an extra proud nanny to her adorable granddaughter, although at only 5 she won’t be reading ‘Blood List’ anytime soon!

Follow @alicrimewriter on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit alicarterauthor.com

Buy Blood ListAbout the book

Think the Lake District is a lovely place to visit? Think again. A Psychological & Chilling Thriller set in and around the fictional town of Kirkdale in Cumbria. One by one the young women of Kirkdale are being found grotesquely murdered, with no clues as to why.

Lying between the great lake Kirkwater and the base of Kirkby Pike, although beautiful, Kirkdale isn’t exactly the most exciting place on the planet. But after young reporter Jenny Flood moves into the relaxed Cumbrian town, it sets a catalogue of events in motion that brings this comfortable community to its knees.

When middle aged G.P. Charlotte Peterson discovers Jenny has followed her from Bradenthorpe, six years after a fling with her philandering doctor husband Miles, it stirs deeply buried mental health issues from her youth. In the run up to the Kirkdale country show, the arrival of this third and most recent adversary triggers the already edgy and emotionally scarred Charlotte into finally stepping over the edge. Her longing to destroy Jenny has been on a slow and very resentful burn for years, now the reality of achieving that presents itself as a genuine possibility.

Can journalist Andrew Gale protect new colleague Jenny, girlfriend Gina and her best friend Molly from the psychotic GP’s insane agenda? How will sarcastic ex Met. Officer Harry Longbridge deal with Andrew’s continued interference?

Then there’s the unexpected arrival of an American mystery woman. And just who is on the Blood List?Review

I sincerely hope I never feel any man is worth becoming so deranged that I self-implode and destroy my own life and future. Charlotte places his fidelity above everything else in her life. Above her career, her happiness and her peace of mind. It’s all about what Miles is doing 24/7, and with whom. It’s obsessive, controlling and perhaps a wee bit insane.

Miles is a dog. There is no doubt about it. If he could get away with it he would probably have an affair with every attractive woman in his vicinity. However his greed appears to be bigger than his wish to be a single man.

Then there is the person who makes up this triangle of messiness, Jenny. She inadvertently starts the ball rolling in this fast-paced and often ruthless story.

There is a lot going on in this book. The beginning is packed full of characters, It’s a lot to take in, so I would suggest giving it all a minute to sink in. The motives of the killer seem pretty clear until you start digging around and uncover the why. There is more to this story than meets the eye.

It’s a psychological thriller with shades of Dr Foster, but rather more deadly. The jealous wife, the philandering husband and an obsession that turns deadly.

I’m not going to give anything away about the ending, but I was a little bit like: What? But that means they are… Yeh, I wonder how that will get sorted out and it sounds as if the psycho has more in store for them. Nothing keeps a goal driven bat crap crazy person down for long.

Buy Blood List at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing; pub date 11 Oct. 2018.

#BlogTour Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella. It’s compelling literary fiction, the kind of read you remember.About the Author

Gary Santorella, Owner, Interactive Consulting is a Lean implementation, organizational development, conflict resolution, and team-building specialist. He has a BA in Behavioural Psychology from Providence College, Providence, RI (1980), a Master’s Degree in Occupational Social Welfare from UC Berkeley (1990), and is a licensed cognitive-behavioural therapist in the State of California. His book: Lean Culture for the Construction Industry: Building Responsible & Committed Project Teams 2nd Edition was published by Productivity Press (a division of Taylor & Francis) in 2017. His first novel, Dyed Souls, was published by Matador Publishing in 2018.

Follow Gary Santorella aka @dyedsouls on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads,

Buy Dyed SoulsAbout the book

Described by John Lloyd of The Bookbag as “Catcher in the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Dyed Souls is a gritty coming-of-age literary novel, set in a residential treatment center in 1980’s California.

Charlie Lyle loves science, natural history, and the world of the mind, and it is his refuge and salvation as he copes with his drug-addicted mother and a world of circumstances well-beyond his grasp. More a work of philosophy than psychology, “For the teen it has a galling coming-of-age, redemption quest. For the adult it has that, as well as a literary look at a singular fictional life.”

Review

Now and again you get a gem of a book that comes along and takes you by surprise. With the kind of story that is so poignant you can hear the sound of it breaking walls as it penetrates the consciousness of readers.

This is the story of a teenage boy, who has spent his entire life being bandied about and abused by a mother who forgets him in a moments notice, as she seeks self-gratification in an attempt to forget her own misery.

Charlie feels the need to protect his mother on some level, despite the neglect and abuse he suffers at her hands, words and actions. She is the only one, bar his grandparents, who appears to have any interest in him.

The employees of Hawthorne are paid to inspect and dissect his life and emotional well-being like a bug under a microscope. Only the occasional person will feel and exhibit true compassion. In their defence, social workers or people working in the care system have to find a way to deal with the tragic reality of children in their care. The frustration of help or rescue being beyond their remit is often debilitating.

Santorella delivers a work of literary perfection. There are no moments of superfluous details or scenes, which are often added to give a story an added layer of attraction. It’s just the life and emotional turbulence of a teenager laid bare, as he navigates the obstacles of neglect, abuse, coming-of-age and confusion of mutual attraction.

It’s compelling literary fiction, written with an ease of memories flowing from the recesses of the mind to fingers eager to voice. A brief moment of time encapsulating the pain and fear that cements the pathway of an entire lifetime. Experiences that drive a vulnerable and troubled young person to pick a path of self-destruction or one with some semblance of peace and happiness.

It truly is a sublime read.

Buy Dyed Souls at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing – Matador Books pub date 11 Feb. 2018. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Troubador. iBooks. Google.

#BlogTour Time School by Nikki Young

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Time School by Nikki Young. It’s a pleasant introduction into the history of WW 1 and the concept of time travel. It’s a short read suitable for all age groups.

About the Author

Nikki Young is a writer and lover of stories and ‘The Mystery of the Disappearing Underpants’ is her first book. Nikki credits her lively imagination to an amazing childhood, growing up in Yorkshire and living in a cul-de-sac in the days when children were allowed to run free and left to make their own fun! Now a mum of three, she says that in her head, she hasn’t really grown up and those memories of her childhood days remain strong and active.

Follow @nikki_cyoung @matadorbooks

Visit nikkiyoung.co.uk

Buy Time School

About the book

A power cut and a series of mini disasters means friends, Jess, Nadia, Tomma and Ash barely make it to the station to catch their train to school. What they find is a far cry from the usual packed commuter train they’re expecting…

When they arrive at Hickley School, the children are surprised to find some of the buildings missing and they don’t recognise any of the other pupils, who are all dressed in a different style of uniform. The only person who takes the time to help them is Martha, despite being preoccupied by her own worries about her family being hungry and not hearing from brother, Henry whom she says is away fighting. The children soon realise this is no normal day and it’s not until they return home that they’re able to figure out what happened. What they don’t know is whether it was a one-off day, or if they will get to see Martha and the other pupils again. Jess hopes so. She has something she needs to tell Martha. Not knowing how or why, she feels a connection and an obligation to this girl she can’t explain.

Review

Imagine getting on a train you get on every morning only to be whisked away through a gap in time to the past. To a time of great upheaval, struggle and sorrow, with the only option to return being the same train. Just you and a few of your friends thrust into one of the most traumatic periods in the 20th century. How, why and for what purpose?

I think it is a gentle and non-abrasive way of introducing young readers to the World Wars, specifically the Great War. Having bought and read similar books with a historical context for children, and for my own children, it is fair to say that young readers of our era are capable of dealing with a lot more reality and facts. The premise offered up a lot of potential and Young shouldn’t be cautious when plotting and delving into that potential. Children and younger readers are capable of embracing and enjoying more complex and realistic storylines.

This premise also allows for further ventures into the past, regardless of whether the fictional story collides with an important historical event or not. Books like these can be great teaching tools, because readers learn historical facts in a fictional setting.

What I really liked about it was the fact I could read this to a child of any age or give it to them to read, without having any concerns they might be overwhelmed by the subject matter. At the very least readers will come away with a basic understanding of how the war had impact on everyone regardless of age or status. Rationing, clothing, war orphans and refugees, and having to deal with the death of a loved one.

More advanced readers could discuss the butterfly effect of the time travel. Did the event the children were there to change or stop only occur because they were there in the first place?

Given a little more depth I can see this becoming an interesting series (hint, hint) and a scholastic possibility. I would like to see Young spread her wings a little more and allow for the creative ideas to flourish instead of curbing them. Saying that, I would buy this book for a reluctant reader or as an introduction to the topics of history, war and time travel.

Buy Time School at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Publisher: Troubador Publishing ( pub date: 28 Jun. 2018)